City and Port Agree to Work Together

Good news! The City of Westport and the Port of Grays Harbor have reached an agreement on the Landing Tax. After heated exchanges between the City and the Port, the two entities will move forward with an interlocal agreement, which means the Port will support the City of Westport's efforts on House Bill 1806.

If HB 1806 makes it through the legislature, a portion of the Landing Tax would go directly to the city of Westport to help with infrastructure, and a percentage would also go to the Port to help maintain the marina. Westport Port Manager Molly Bold said, "It is in the best interest of both parties to work together for the good of the community."

Local Fishermen and Port Address Moorage Concerns

Heated exchanges have also occurred between local fishing families and the Port regarding transient moorage fees and the waitlist for annual moorage. But the Port has made moves to address the issue. In the January 13th Port meeting, the Port agreed to a third-party policy review of the annual moorage waitlist. That study should be completed by the end of February.

Read more about the Landing Tax and moorage issues here: https://www.thewestportdrift.com/thelineup/is-the-port-of-grays-harbor-pushing-out-westport-fishing-families

Skatepark - Coming Soon!

*Westport Skatepark Concept from Grindline Skateparks, Inc.*

The Westport Skatepark made some headway this month, and things are falling into place for a possible spring build. The City had to file for a grant extension, and then there was a long wait for approval of the Cultural Resources survey—apparently, there is a 6-month backlog for these surveys—but Westport got the all-clear. An engineering firm has been hired to organize and administer the bidding process for skatepark builders to submit their proposals. In the latest Planning Commission meeting, City Administrator Thomas Cappa said, "We should have somebody on board to build it, I'm thinking by the end of March."

VES Tower Update

There will be a VES tower talk during the upcoming Storms and Seafood event. On Sunday, January 31st, at 3pm in McCausland Hall, City Administrator Thomas Cappa will give an update on the current VES build process, and attendees will be able to see the design. The final VES design should be completed by the end of February, and a larger community outreach event will be planned.

Fire Chief and Police Chief Transitions

South Beach Regional Fire Chief Vander Veer will be officially retiring on January 30, 2026 after 29 years of service.

Westport may soon have a new Police Chief. An offer was made to Ronald Phillips, who currently serves as Police Sergeant for the Casselberry Florida Police Department (just outside of Orlando).

Ocosta School Levy

The Ocosta School District will be running an Educational Programs and Operations Levy in February of 2026. This will replace the former levy, which the district runs every three years to cover costs not covered by state funding. The levy helps fund textbooks, extracurricular activities, sports, field trips, paraeducators, and more. The special election is on February 10, 2026. Ballots must be postmarked by this date if mailed or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. For more information on the levy, go here: https://www.ocosta.org/page/levy-information

Beach Erosion Woes

The Dune Crest neighborhood (just to the south of the Condos) is considering extending the cobble berm to address erosion. It's an expensive project that could cost close to $2.5 million. The current dune has eroded just over 6 feet per year since 1997. Residents are seeking partnerships with the city, county, and state to help fund shoreline stabilization. Otherwise, it's about $125,000 per parcel to pay for the project.

Westport Update: City-Port Partnership, Skatepark Progress, and Community Changes